I have no investment and no connection to this kickstarter. I just happened upon it in my Twitter feed and was very interested. I’m considering buying one, and then decided it might be of interest to others here.

Another worthwhile (though short) article about a celebrity who has dealt with depression. I appreciate her candor and agree with what she’s said. I just wish she had shared a little more about her personal journey.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (also called GERD) is the main reason that people start taking PPIs, or proton pump inhibitors, like Prilosec. This research indicates that PPIs and other acid reducing products are not exactly the right way to treat GERD. It’s not the stomach acid that hurts the esophagus, it’s a protein that causes inflammation. Obviously, the article explains this better than I do.

What upsets me is that despite this information, the researchers and doctors are saying that current medications are the way to go for GERD patients. That’s ridiculous, as we’ve all learned that it’s not too much stomach acid that causes problems, it’s TOO LITTLE stomach acid. So taking these PPIs to further reduce stomach acid is the WRONG THING TO DO.

When will doctors wake up and stop feeding the pharmaceutical industry at our expense? This is a money-making industry, not interested in our promoting our health but keeping us stagnant in our diseases and syndromes so they can continue to push drugs at us that make them money.

I don’t feel this way about all drugs, for sure. I know a lot of medicines help a lot of people. But with regards to PPIs and other antacid medications, I believe it’s about the money, not the cure.

Suicides drop around the holidays but go up afterwards (and in the spring apparently!). But that doesn’t mean depression and anxiety aren’t compounded or exacerbated by the holiday dazzle and frazzle.

Please, if you’re feeling depressed or anxious, reach out to those around you. Friends, family, spiritual leaders, medical professionals. There’s help, there are people who care about you and how you’re feeling.

If you feel you can’t speak to those who know you personally (sometimes shame and embarrassment can keep us from reaching out), reach out to me! I am not a medical professional or a spiritual leader, but I am a fellow sufferer who is constantly on her journey to recovery.

I like Will Wheaton a lot, but not for his acting or anything that really has to do with the entertainment industry. I like him because he talks about his life and his struggles (and accomplishments) with depression and anxiety. He’s open and honest and he tries to share what has worked and what hasn’t worked for him. I found this post very interesting and I wanted to share.